Ev1 electric car?

Question

Why did they take back the EV1 Electric cars. and never told any body why, why did they take the cars & shred them up. so many people liked the car. why did that happen ?

Answer 1

They were not practical, using old-tech batteries and needing frequent battery replacement.  Newer tech made them obsolete by the time they were put on the market.  GM didn't want to have to provide ongoing maintenance for a car that wasn't going to become mainstream.

Plus, electric cars take a long time to charge and have very limited travel range.  The electricity is mostly provided by coal or nuclear energy, so they are really coal or nuclear powered cars.

The Bush Administration has made terrific progress in technology that moves us to really clean geothermal-hydrogen energy.  He's been working with the EU since 2003 to mature this technology and we already have fleets of H-powered vans running around some major cities.  All we need now is for the public to become aware of his push for clean, carbon-free energy.

The military is also driving H-powered trucks supplied by GM.

Answer 2

You saw the movie, which was made by people with a political agenda, though it's not clear just what they expected to accomplish.  The EV-1 was built of plastic and aluminum components whose life couldn't be estimated.  There were plastic springs and aluminum swing arms, and if one breaks, the car will spin out and crash.  Then it wouldn't just be the electric car that got killed, and everyone would have been lamenting the cruelty of GM in allowing these cars to remain on the road.

Answer 3

The cars cost about $500,000 each to build, cost thousands per year to maintain, but were only leased for $500 to $600 per month.  They were a very costly experiment for GM, but the information learned may ultimately help them build the Chevy Volt within the next few years.

Answer 4

The cars were an experiment in profitablity...it didn't happen, especially when the price of gas then was still $1-1.50.

It was a very limited run, so the 5000 or so people who liked it doesn't matter against the 3,000,000+ people a year who buy new Trucks/SUV's.

Why were they crushed...DOT guidelines likely for prototype/experimental technology cars as they were never offered for sale only lease.   Also you have to realize...what other car mfgr released an EV for sale to the general public?  GM had to worry about reverse engineering and coorporate p****y.